augustinian mirror 2007 issue c

8/9/2019 Augustinian Mirror 2007 Issue C

1/10

Gallery 19JUNE - AUGUST 2007

ArtWork by Denielle Pendilla, 6

Patricia Torres, 5LHyeMin Lim, 5G

5G2

Chad Meskers, 5G Alanna Baes, 5G

Trisha Gabrielle Guillermo, 5GYu, Chien Shih 5G Kim Soo Hyun, 5H

Kim Soo Hyun, 5H

5G

Anna Ysabel Gabriel, 6LKrystel Marie Cerbo, 6L

Hye Min Lim, 5G Kim, Soo Jung 5H Abarra, 6K


2/10

Features20 JUNE - AUGUST 2007Catchy phrases, the audience were much more attentive. Moreover,jingles and creative dance moves seemed to be a hit with them. A

stretch in the imagination could go beyond the usual getting the messageacross.Lesson# 2: Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork!

Teamwork is very essential in life. Without this, we wouldn't havecome up with new ideas. Without the support of each other, our partywouldn't have been successful. I remember the time when we stayed inschool on a Saturday to work on our dance moves and banners. I'm notreally the type of person who is fond of dancing, but the moves seemed alltoo easy when we were helping each other, and preparing too many abanner turned out to be a piece of cake as well.Lesson# 3: You can't avoid feeling down when you lose;

But if you learn to be a good sport, it is liberating.It's only natural that somebody feels bad when he loses. But we

must accept that in life there are ups and downs. Sometimes you win;sometimes you lose. If we learn to accept reality and be a good sport, we feellight from within.

Three gems in a row, that my allowance cannot buy, just made me alittle bit smarter in this world. So to those who feel hesitant to joincompetitions or elections for fear of losing, fight away your fears. Look forthe buried gems in your mystery cave. It's worth it.

On our way toMother SpinelliRetreat House inTagaytay, I canthelp be anxious

a b o u t w h a t

happens in an overnight retreat, for I have never attended one before.But then again, my classmates and I were enjoying our trip-bonding;taking pictures, eating, and endless talking which luckily took my mindoff the pressure.

A set of house rules were given us when we arrived and webasically did our best to do what our retreat masters told us. I enjoyedevery minute of the retreat. A far cry from the idea that it is unexcitingand boring. We learned new things about one another. We discoveredthe answers to some of our questions in mind. We looked forward toand were even most excited about the mass. We did give our best inthis retreat. Pouring out our minds and hearts, we learned theimportance of each one of us. We learned how to be better persons for

ourselves, for others, and for God.Feeling serene and truly happy after the retreat, we realizedthat God is always present in our lives, in our family - both at home andin school.

It is everyday we are given a chance

to make a difference. Everyone can make adifference, but we always have to start small.You don't have to be a super hero. So Iintroduce to you a new way of showingconcern for the common good..by smiling.

Sharing a bright smile will surelyshow how much you care for someone,because smiling is something thatexpresses joy. A person who receives asmile from their loved one can make theirday, despite all the problems he/sheencountered.

And I want everyone to know that themoment I enter the door of 5 J, in themorning, I instantly wait for someone tosmile or at least greet me a friendly hello.That usually puts me in a good mood. For itreminds me that people are there for me,may it be good times or bad. Sometimes,smiling is very hard to do, especially whenyou have problems. That's why I reallyappreciate and thank those people whoshare their smiles with me everyday. I knowthat I can always count on them.

Keep on sharing your smile, becauseyou never know who is falling in love withyour gentle and sweet smiles. And Ichallenge you, my fellow Augustinians, toshare a simple smile to show that you trulycare for someone and to make someone'sday a happy day.

Arianna Gabriella T. Faustino, 5JSMILE

RETREAT RETREATan enlighteningexperience

Anne Camille M. Ortiz, 7B

ArtWork by Kurt Gonzales,6L

(from p 17)

Mr. Enervon SanchezMr. E is not just a teacher in our eyes. He is a loyal friend,

companion, and brother as well. It was 2001 when he began hispassion for teaching. I believe that it is a blessing that he found his wayto CSA. Mr. E saysenjoys it here because of his friends and students.His most memorable moment was when he met teacher Nancy, nowMrs. Sanchez, here in CSA.

Many students, including me, look up to him. I specially

remember the times when he would cheer me up with his kind and wittywords . Teacher ChroniclesTanay Naseeba Yoon Jin Madhuri, 4H

Mr. Willy TenorioSir Willy first came to CSA on June

1987 to fulfill his passion for teaching. Hehas worked here since and has now

dedicated 20 years of his professional life inthe institution.Sir Willy, as we fondly call him,

enjoys the company of his students. Hismost memorable moment was when hereceived his 20th year service award inCSA last August. When asked if he will stilchoose to be a teacher given a chance tochange the past, his answer was aresounding yes. He claims it is because heloves teaching and his students, and that forhim, It's like home.

MA. Qyana Chanelle A. Pelayo,5L


3/10

Features21JUNE - AUGUST 2007

Like a wounded mother, the world is slowly dying because ofGlobal Warming. It has made our Mother Naturesuffer heavily. The pollution we make and the trash we throw are just some of the causes of this global crisis. Can weafford to see our planet destroyed by our own doing?

Global Warming is caused by the improper care for our environment. Pollution from smoke in ou

cars thicken the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Illegal logging and Kaingin are also some issuesthat not only make this planet sick, but also make our surroundings unpleasant to look at. Oufactories produce thick smoke and release harmful chemicals to our rivers and lakes.

These irresponsible acts scourge the earth with the following effects. Flashfloods andlandslides due to illegal logging. All kinds ofdisease afflicting people because of the pollutionDeath and destruction of ourmarine ecologyas itabsorbs the harmful chemicals from thefactories.

Hence, we should help one another in rebuilding our forests. We should minimize the use of cars to lessenpollution. Our factories should also have proper waste disposal. Let us recycle materials so we wont have to burn ougarbage.

As an Augustinian, we should support the school trust: A community of friends workingin social transformation towards the upliftment of life through the witnessing of truth,

justice, peace, and concern for God's creation.In this way, we can restore the beauty of MotherNature, and make the world a better place to live in.

A Wounded MotherVerne Stephen M. Villegas, 7I

Earth

ArtWork by Katrina Del Rosario, 6

SALUTEin Gratitude for Loyalty and Dedication through the years

to the 29th Service Awardees

Mrs. Eva Gay Libunao has been a good mentor to countless graderswho share her passion in Math and Technology. She has dedicated adecade of service to San Agustin because her personal goals alignwith the institution's goals. She cherishes the harmonious relationshipwith her colleagues.

Happiness & contentment are the keys to decades of service in CSA.

Mrs. Ingrid S. Nicolas has been a second mother to countless Grade2 & 3 pupils. Her desire to teach and inspire young lives motivated herto stay in CSA. Being an Augustinian has helped her to be strong infacing her challenges in life, carefully maintaining a positive outlook.Excellence is the keyword in CSA. If you strive to give the best thatyou can, you'll see yourself growing and find fulfillment in everythingyou do.

The family spirit in CSA has motivated Mrs. Cecilia Aurea F. Abandoto stay for twenty long years in this noble institution. Serving asGuidance Coordinator for the past 14 years, she considers working inCSA a blessing, allowing her to put family and career together.Love your work and do it with passion. CSA will provide you with allthe opportunities for growth and development as young professionalsand as true servants working for God's glory. Grab this opportunity.

Her desire to teach and mold the youth into a total person was whatdrew Mrs. Yulenia Enriquez to teach in CSA. She is currently servingher second term as Grade 3 Head Teacher. Fondly called Nia by herfriends and colleagues in the GS department, she is the embodimentof endless vigor and fierce commitment to her work. .Nurturing friendship and humbly accepting one's needs forimprovement, leads one to beautifully bloom and grow in wisdom.

Mr. Roman Fernandez considers his twenty years in CSA as acontinuous spiritual discovery, in view of the school's strong Christianformation among its members. The school's endeavor to provideacademic excellence to its clientele has motivated Mr. Fernandez tobe always at his best.Be loyal and grateful to CSA because it will always be there for youthrough thick and thin.

Ms. Josephine Ruiz, the Grade 1 Head Teacher, has found her otherhalf in the CSA community. Her dedication and commitment to herwork complete her despite her single blessedness. As mother androle model to young pupils, she nurtures them with love, care, andsensitivity.Love your work and treat your pupils like your own children.

Mr. Wilfredo Tenorio maintains a buoyant personality through ebbs antides. Twenty-years of teaching has prompted him to search for what right and true, emulating the Augustinian adage: Do what you have to dand do it properly. His gentle hilarity has opened for him the world friendship, service and commitment.

Autograph your work with excellence, always smile and be a friend to al

Ms. Anita Parro has shown a taste for excellence throughout her twentyfive years in the Grade School as HELE teacher. She is a lady who always ready to lend a helping hand to co-teachers for she is skillful imany crafts making her a good role model to all.Love your work, be dedicated and be committed.Be good role models and source of happiness to all.

Mrs. Maxima Hadarly has now been the GS Departments Reading Phonics Coordinator for a decade. She takes pride in having devoted thbest years of her l ife in this institution. As an Augustinian, she realized thself-worth comes from using one's gifts and sharing them to others. Shbelieves that any job can be done with grace, dignity, style and purpose.The real impact of how we feel about our job lies on our attitude.Those who find value in their job enjoy greater sense of purpose.

Ms. Belinda H. Tejadas 3 decades of service in CSA provided her greopportunities to grow professionally and spiritually. New challenges aninnovations make her more confident of her self and her beliefs. Shtreasures the memories and experiences of the faculty's travescapades to explore the different parts of the country, as well as, th

journeys to solitude to explore God's presence within.Render service even beyond working hours without expecting anything in retufor the rewards of serving cannot be measured as it lingers for a lifetime.

Time changes; and time has changed me, quotes Mrs. LetMagpantay as she describes her 35th year of unwavering service to thinstitution. She takes pride of the trust and concern afforded to her by hadministrators in handling vital functions on campus. Having stayed hefor many suns and moons, she is constantly overwhelmed by the genuinfriendship and family spirit among members of the community.Honesty and patience are values to live by in becoming a committed educator.

Mr. Menardo Anda retired with flying colors as the GS Departmentindefatigable Coordinator of the Social Studies area for 19 fruitful yearHis 26 years of unwavering service to CSA is a testimony of hi

competence, leadership, professional training and personal values thahe keeps. His rewarding years of service were not only influenced by hpassion for excellence, but also inspired by the friendship and truafforded by the administration, faculty, staff and students.Be professional, and take pride in your work.

- to next pagI t is possible to give without loving, and tr uly impossible to love without giving.

Viancci& Dominic M. Villegas


4/10

Features22 JUNE - AUGUST 2007

Born in 322 at Tagaste (now knownas Souk Ahrus), Monica was married toPatricius, a pagan official in Tagaste early inher life. In this marriage, she bore threechildren namely Augustine, Navigius, andPerpetua.

Monica lived her life in prayer andpatience. She was able to convert Patriciusinto the Catholic faith, but eventually, he dieda year after. She influenced Navigius andPerpetua to enter a religious life. In the otherhand, St. Augustine was more difficult to

convince. As she prayed for years, beggingfor the prayers of the priests, who seeminglyavoided her, she did all that she could tosave her son's soul. One of the priests

consoled her. St. Ambrosesoon baptized Augustine in387. Monica died shortlyafter her son's baptism.

We celebrate herfeast every August 27, ad a y b e f o r e o u r S t .Augustine's feast.

John was born at CasteProziano, Italy, at the beginning of thfourteenth century, and he entered thAugustinian Order in his early youth aRieti. His brief life as a friar was markeby simplicity, cheerfulness, innocenceand great devotion to the communityHe made himself the servant of all anexpressed his fraternal love in thsimplest and most ordinary tasks. Hspent much time in prayer and alway

served in th

Masses of thpriests of thc o m m u n i t yJohn died at tha g e oseventeen. Hio r d i n a r y y eextraordinary lifis remembereon every 2nd oAugust, his feasday.

The life of the soul is the love ofGod. She lived by her words, givingherself completely to God throughouther life. She is particularly rememberedfor her devotion to the Passion ofChrist. For that reason, she is calledClare of the Cross.

Born in 1268 of a wealthy familyin Montefalco, Italy, Clare chose a life of

self-denial. Together with her sister Joan,they established a cloistered group ofnuns living in prayer and sacrifice. Whilsta teenager, she made Christ her one truelove and shared in his suffering.

She faced great trials in her lifethat caused her spiritual turmoil eachday. She doubted her faith and wonderedwhether God had abandoned her. Itseemed that Christ was exacting of herthe total blind thrust that He demands ofall who profess to love Him.

One of her trials,

physical illness,started in a vision,w h e r e G o dimplanted a cross inher heart . Theintense pain thats h e f e l t u p o nreceiving the crossremained in heruntil her death.

S h e w i l l i n g l yaccepted her deathon August 17, 1308.

A ugustinian H oly

St. Clare of the Cross St. MonicaBlessed John of Rieti

Legrand Buan & Flora Palabrica

Saints are the core of faithful service to the church; and in CSA, we commemorate theacts of charitable justice and dedication in the search for truth.

Faithful to this Augustinian tradition, each grade level celebrates the feast of its patrosaint.

ArtWork by Greg Dominic Andaman

SALUTEcontinued

For twenty great years now, Fr. Manuel D. Fernandez, OSA has beenfaithfully serving CSA as procurator in the Purchasing Office. He hasalso served as Vice-Rector for many years. What actually motivated Fr.Manuel to serve the CSA community is his obedience and faithfulness to

his superiors who believe in his capacity and ability to lead God'speople.Love God and neighbor; live together, help and console each other.Follow the Gospel.

Thoughtful, passionate and loving are perhaps the best ways todescribe Mrs. Noelyn Zapa, a library clerk in the Grade SchoolDepartment. Her love for simple living and family motivated her to stayin CSA. It is in her Augustinian family that she found what matters most,Family Spirit. Her work in the G.S. Library has redefined her purpose inlife. Her Augustinian formation has taught her to think more of others, toprioritize FAMILY, and to live simply.Anything short of victory is but a postponement of defeat.

Mr. Reynaldo B. Acub, a maintenance personnel from the GradeSchool Department, is grateful to God and to this institution for affordinghis two children the best education he wanted them to have. His 20years of service in CSA has developed his self-respect and self-confidence. He acknowledges the people who treat him well andtreasure him as a friend and a gift from God.Be diligent and hardworking for this is the beacon that leads the way to a goodand prosperous life. Avoid vices and replace them with life enduring Augustinianvalues.

Mr. Ernesto C. Tirado, a GS Department maintenance personnel lends hhand to anyone who needs his service. He lauds the good administration in CSwhich encourages the camaraderie that permeates in the school communit

Accordingly, his character was molded as he respected and gained the respeof his colleagues. He has learned to graciously accept the mistakes h

occasionally makes and to take valuable lessons from them.Be loyal to your work, it is an offering. Obey the authorities for they do what is best for all. Bof service to all, especially to the school kids who ask for help. Be respectful to earn the samrespect.

Mr. Jose S. Sobremisana brings to CSA the scenic and picturesqubeauty of his place through the artistic strokes of his hands. He assigned at the Media Center as an artist. His 30-year stay is acolorful as his canvass, highlighted by love of colleagues, loyalty andedication to his craft, and obedience to policies. This early bird nevefails to come early to work and accomplishes every task excellentlLove your work, follow the school policies and be active, lend a hand in schoactivities. It is what you give, not what you receive, that counts.

Mrs. Dominga A. Abungan started at CSA in June, 1988 anthereafter diligently did her best as a loyal member of the Augustiniafamily. She values her colleagues' love, kindness and support atimes of need which made CSA her second home and refuge for 1years. It is the same love and respect of the administrators that sh

holds dear.Love your work; be good to all, not only to your colleagues, but to all membeof the big Augustinian family. Nurture the good relationship which would enabyou to see beyond any negative criticisms.

For it is in service that we truly glorify the greatness of the Almighty


5/10

Reviews23JUNE - AUGUST 2007

Wouldn't you like tomeet your lovedones and thosep e o p l e w h omattered to you

when you die? Or perhaps, know the

reasons of your existence?This is what Eddie, the lead

character in Mitch Albom's novel The Five People You Meet InHeaven, would experience during his journey in heaven. Eddie isa maintenance worker at Ruby Pier, an amusement park. He isalso a war veteran who fought in the Philippines during WorldWar II. The story begins at Ruby Pier, on his 83rd birthday.Ironically, he dies on this very day in a ride accident, trying tosave a young girl. Then, he goes up to heaven and discovers hewould meet five people that were significant during his life.Each of these five people provides him a short glimpse of his

strong enough light to shine through any

darkness.

If you think that magic is merely waving a long piece of wood to make something to happen, then Harry Potter would seriously

prove you wrong. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, being the much awaited final installment of the J.K. Rowling series,

chronicles the end of the most powerful boy wizards saga . Luckily for the true-blood fanatics, this is all 759 pages worth of goodbye!

The book starts with the Death Eaters on their way to their hideout and Voldemort revealing his ultimate plan of defeating

Harry Potter and annihilating all muggles. Then, the scene turns to the Dursleys'. As Harry's protection at the Dursleys' home will

expire when he turns 17, the Order of the Phoenix decided to separately escort Harry and the Dursleys to safety. Despite using

Harry impostors as decoys, the real Harry was identified and attacked by Voldemort and his Death Eaters. Luckily, Harry and the

others narrowly escaped to The Burrow.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione then fended another attack by the Death Eaters during Fleur and Bill's wedding, prompting

them to go to the first safe place they could think of, number twelve Grimauld place. Here is where Ron and Hermione plot to aid

Harry in the mission Dumbledore bestowed on him; to destroy Voldemort's horcruxes and to get rid of him once and for all. Harry and

his friends face new challenges, confront magic beyond their knowledge, and discover more about Dumbledores past as they

struggle to hurdle this task.This final Potter goodbye truly is the one to remember. Tackling issues that affect a teenager's life, it centers on the social

pressures that influence a young adults actions and fuels his thirst to prove himself, consequently molding him into what he could

become. It manifests the significance of endurance in one's life: that we must all get through life's hardships and strive through the lives

given us. More importantly , it shows how simple things like friendship and bravery can make a

Harry Potter and the Deathly HallowsAbdul Kadir R. Faisal, 7D

A Date in HEAVEN Finally, the much anticipated fifth movie installment; Harry Potter anthe Order of the Phoenix, culled from the J. K. Rowling book series tha

took the world by storm, was finally released last July 12. As alway

Harry Potter fanatics who have read the fifth book would morph int

opinionated critics after experiencing the big screen saga, offering thei

takes on the book and movie similarities and differences.

In this outing, Harry Potter returns with a feeling of loneliness despitbeing at Hogwarts once again. He fears that Voldemort is after a weapo

of some sort and is troubled by the others' disbelief of Voldemort

return. In his confusion, Harry did something that could jeopardize hi

stay in Hogwarts. Will forming the DA lead to his own downfall?

What happens to Harry? Will he ever return to Hogwarts?

The book version was released on June 21, 2003. Recently released o

July 21, 2007 was its film version, directed by David Yates an

produced by David Heyman and David Barron. Here are some o

significant differences between the book and the film. To start, It wa

Marietta Edgecombe and NOT Cho Chang who told Umbridge about th

Army through the Veritaserum. Also, Albus Dumbledore escaped by

stunning everyone, not via magical bond between him and Fawkes. In

addition, characters in the book that played a significant part in th

story were removed in the movie. Included in the list are Dobby, AngelinJohnson, and Nearly Headless Nick.

The changes made to the story as it is made to film were, more or less

detrimental. For although it is a given that many scenes in the book woul

not be included in the movie due to time boundaries, A film version loya

to its printed original would be very much appreciated.

Robbin Charles M. Dagle,7C

Oscar A. Acopiado Jr,7C

Harry Potter &

the Order of the PhoenixA COMPARATIVE REVIEW

A Date in

HEAVENA Date inA Date in Heaven

past, giving reason and rhyme to all that occurred during his lifetime. Eddieeventually learns some important lessons, finally making sense of his life.

This novel, like Albom's previous outing; the critically acclaimedTuesdays with Morrie, packs a lot of lessons to live by. Perhaps the bestrealization is that everything we do here has a meaning. It stresses out thateverything is interconnected and is therefore important, a part and parcel ofour stay here on earth. Sacrifices, the book says, has to be made for the good ofother people. Other life lessons regarding loyalty and true love are also dwelton as Eddie meets his batch of five people.

The Five People You Meet in Heaven is a New York Times Bestseller.The novel earned excellent reviews from different book critics around theworld and had its television-movie debut in 2004.

Heaven

ArtWork by Melissa Esguerra, 6K

Potter CoversHarry Potter & the DeathlyHallows book release covers

Harry Potter book fanatics would contend that, indeed, the book is still the bette

option if one wishes to experience the magical tale once again, seemingly because it ha

the true twists and scoops of the fateful scarred boy's story. The continuation of th

story of the boy of magic and wizardry resumed in the 6th book, Harry Potter and th

Half-Blood Prince and ended with its final outing, the 7th and last of the boo

series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, which was recently released Jul

21, in sync with the film premiere.

Still, potter fanatics look forward to two more movie releases, hoping justice i

made manifest to the magical world they share with harry and his wizard friends


6/10

Imagine your own town trapped inside a big glass dome, because you contaminated the lake with pig droppingsjust to get free doughnuts. Now, the whole town's after you. How would you feel? Guilty and scared, I suppose. No wonderHomer Simpson had tried to escape Springfield in the 2007 animated comedy film, The Simpsons Movie.

The film, based on the animated television series, was directed by David Silverman and produced by James L.Brooks, Matt Groening, Al Jean, Mike Scully, and Richard Sakai. The comedy film features the band Green Day and Tom Hanks,appearing as themselves. And Albert Brooks played the role of the antagonist, Russ Cargill.

The Film begins with Green Day performing on Lake Springfield and is killed when the polluted lake eats away theirbarge, causing it to sink. At their funeral, Grandpa Simpson had a strange vision that Marge seems to understand that it maybe the downfall of Springfield. The vision eventually came true, because of Homer. This incident brings countless trials for theSimpsons, bringing Homer and Marge's relationship to a critical point, where Marge, together with Lisa, Bart, and Maggie, runaway from Homer and Alaska to save Springfield.

What would you do if you suddenly discovered that your favorite food was actually cooked by a rat?What would you think of someone who befriends these furry creatures of the sewers?Ratatouille (pronounced as rat-a-too-ee), is the most recent film produced by Pixar and distributed bWalt Disney Pictures. The film stars Remy (Patton Oswalt), a rat who lives in a French farmhouse resided b

an eccentric, old woman.Eventually, Remy was in solitude as he notices himself in Paris. There, he meets Linguini (Lou Romano) whseemingly ruined the reputation of such a famed restaurant because he had no culinary talent.The plot centers itself on Linguini's self-discovery though romance with Collette, the only female chef in thcrew, and extraordinary help from humble origins. The movie itself has a countless number of unexpecte

twists and turns. Also, the way these animators picture the wild and colorful imagination of the writer truly gives justice to all the characterwith remarkable special effects and spectacular dubbings.t is therefore, another film for the whole family to enjoy, owing to its wholesome humor and value-laden concept applicable to real life. Th

message of the film states that we can change the world if we decide to; based on Remy's lines Change is nature and it starts when wedecide. It also emphasizes another line from him, We are who we are. In other words, it is good to be simple, but there is always room fomprovement.

Autobots, roll out! OptimusPrime's catchy catch phrase. Fans of

the animated Transformers series

would never forget these words.

T h e T r a n s f o r m e r s w a s

originally from a comic series that

sold millions throughout the globe

before becoming an animated series

that adult and kids fancy until today.

Award w inn i ng

director Mr. Bay, of

Armageddon and Pearl Harbor fame,

surely did a fantastic job choosing the

right mix of actors, arranging the scenes

nicely, and placing an awesome touch of

special effects. This movie is truly a

masterpiece.

The Transformers era started

with a war that waged between the Autobots ,led by

Optimus Prime, and the devious Decepticons, commanded

by Megatron, for control over the Allspark, a

mystical source of great power that gave them life.

This resulted to the destruction of their planet. The

Allsparks was soon discovered on earth.

JUNE - AUGUST 200724Reviews

A century later, Sam Witwicky (Shia LaBeouf), a normalhigh school student bought his very first car. Then he discovers it

to be Bumblebee, an Autobot sent as a scout to search for th

Allsparks. Not before long, Optimus and his gang arrived on

earth to bring an end to their conflict with the Decepticons.

Soon after, Sam and his girlfriend Mikaela (Megan Fox

then finds themselves in the middle of a grand battle betwee

the Autobots and the Decepticons, stretching from Hoover Dam

all the way to Los Angeles.

We all know that this film's purpose is for

entertainment alone, but behind the pictures ar

messages that we humans can learn from. Thi

movie inspires us to pursue our dreams and to

fight for what we believe. There may be some

Decepticons in our lives, but let us not forget

that there is always a way to defeat them.

O v e ral l , I w oul d ra t e

Transformers a six out of five

stars. Though it isn't legal to overrate, I

honestly believe that it is worth buying DVDs to

watch over and over again. It is a must-see for

all the original Transformers series fans and

to all those who are seeking for a remarkable

action sci-fi movie. Transformers is truly

without doubt, More Than Meets the Eye.

Legrand H. Buan 7C

ArtWork by Angelica Marie Sy, 6K

With the movie's bizarre humor about Schwarzenegger being president, Homer naming a pig Spider Pig and Harry Plopper, and Tom Hankin a pointless commercial, the movie is sure to bring smiles in each and everyone who watches it. However, this rated PG 13 movie shows unsuitablescenes for children not accompanied by a parent or an adult.

Tanya Chua

Read a book or watched a film lately? Share us your thoughts!!! Be a book and movie critic!!!

email your reviews to [email protected]

Audrey Bianca P. Navia, 7C


7/10

Science25JUNE - AUGUST 2007Think of a shark that is feasting

on whales, making them its daily dietand having gigantic razor-sharp teeth.

Think it's only a myth? Then, thinkagain!

From fossil teeth and a fewfossil vertebrae, scientist haddiscovered a sea predator whose sizes so remarkable that a full-growndriver seems to be an ant whencompared to it. Thus, they named itCarcharodon Megalodon, or simply:Megalodon.

M e g a l o d o n h a s m a n ycharacteristics that is the same as thegreat white sharks, only it is a numberof times bigger than the great white.Weighing about 30 tons andmeasuring a whopping 52 ft. long, itdefinitely deserves the name.

If you thought that massive andmenacing squids only appear in underseadventure movies and stories, destroyinships and pulling them down to their doomWell, past and recent discoveries prove not.

These eight-legged invertebratesconsidered the largest in the world, aremembers ofCephalopoda, which includethe octopus, nautilus and the extincammonite species. For the past years, thessquids have been washing up dead oshores around the world, still amazinscientists and many people because of itgreat size.

In Tasmania, Australia, last Julyo2007, a giant squid washed up dead oTasmania's west coast was one of thbiggest ever found, weighing in at 250kilograms(550 pounds), measuring 8meters(26.2 feet), and has a cross section abig as a truck tire and longer than a statiowagon. It is an intriguing and puzzling

discovery, said David Pemberton, curator othe Tasmanian Museum. The specimen mabe preserved to gather more information oits biology and that it could be displayedpublicly in the museum.

Scientists and experts found severacharacterist ics that they have noencountered before, including long, thiflaps of muscle attached to each of thesquid's eight arms, They also found out thathe squid was full of ammonia to aidbuoyancy, and would not be recommendeas calamari, because of it's unpleasant tasteSo even though the scientists wanted tothey could not have made a feast of thesquid.

Have you ever imaginedencountering strange creatures, likethe dodo or the saber-tooth tiger, onyour way home from school? Picture across between Dumbo and Cousin It,as big as a house and with pelt largeenough to carpet your whole home.Sounds impossible? You may yet seet h i s a n i m a l r o a m i n g y o u r neighborhood!

A giant 23,000 year oldmammoth-icicle was unearthed byscientists under the permafrost inSiberia. The woolly was flown to aRussian laboratory in the city of

Khatanga. It will be defrosted andstudied by a group of scientistsspecializing in Cryogenetics, thescience of using frozen geneticmateral. If they are able to get an intactcell nucleus, woolly might be cloned.The cell nucleus will be implanted in asurrogate mother. Woolly jr. would thenbe half-mammoth and half elephant.But eventually, through selectivebreeding, you may have your very ownfriendly neighborhood woolly!

The Yangtze River dolphin is now almost certainlyextinct, making it the first dolphin that humans drove to

extinction, scientists have now concluded after anntense search for the endangered species.The loss also represents the first global extinction ofmegafaunaany creature larger than about 200 pounds(100 kilograms)for more than 50 years, since thedisappearance of the Caribbean monk seal (Monachustropicalis).The Yangtze River dolphin or baiji (Lipotes vexillifer) ofChina has long been recognized as one of the world'smost rare and threatened mammal species."It's a relic species, more than 20 million years old, thatpersisted through the most amazing kinds of changes in

the planet," said marine biologist Barbara Taylor at theNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration'sFisheries Service. "It's been here longer than the AndesMountains have been on Earth."n 1999, the surviving baiji population was estimated to

be as low as just 13 dolphins, compared to 400 knownbaiji in 1981. The last confirmed glimpse of a baiji wasdocumented by a photo taken in 2002, althoughunverified sightings were reported as recently as2006.

An international team of scientists conducted an

intense six-week search for the dolphin in tworesearch vessels during November and December2006, covering the entire known range of the baiji inthe 1,037-mile (1,669-kilometer) main channel of theYangtze River. The researchers and theirinstruments failed to see or hear any evidence thatthe dolphin survives."It was a surprise to everyone on the expedition thatwe didn't have any sightings at all, that the extinction

just happened soquickly," Taylorrecalled.

This would makethe baiji the first

cetacean, that is, dolphin, porpoise or whale to gextinct because of humans.The species was probably driven to extinction bharmful fishing practices that were not even deviseto harm the dolphins, such as the use of gill netsrolling hooks or electrical stunning. The findings ardetailed Aug. 7 in the journal Biology Letters.

John Carlos C. Sioson, 7DMEGALODONCarcharodon

Dolphin Species Extinct toGoes Due Humans

MammothReturns

The

ZillaMark Gabriel D. Ordonez, 7C

ArtWork by Greg Dominic Andaman, 6J

-mod

Squid

Flora Anne R. Palabrica, 7C


8/10

Science26 JUNE - AUGUST 2007Coral reefs in the central and western Pacific are disappearing twice as fast as rainforests are oland, faster than was previously thought, a new study says.The reefs in this region, called the Indo-Pacific, are disappearing at a rate of 1 percent per yeanearly 600 square miles of reef have disappeared per year since the late 1960s, researchers found"We have already lost half of the world's reef-building corals," said study team leader John Bruno othe University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.The Indo-Pacific contains 75 % of the world's coral reefs, including Australia's Great Barrier Reethe largest single structure built by living organisms (it can be seen from space), and has thhighest coral diversity in the world.Bruno and his colleagues compiled and analyzed a database of 6,000 quantitative surveys of reefperformed between 1968 and 2004 on more than 2,600 Indo-Pacific coral reefs.The surveys tallied coral cover, which is a measure of the density of living corals in a specific part o

the ocean floor. Bruno's study found that coral cover had decreased from 40 percent in the ear1980s to about 20 percent in 2003.The pattern of loss across the entire study area indicates that coral loss is a global phenomenolikely brought on by large-scale stressors such as climate change, coral disease, predatornutrient pollution and over fishing.While reefs cover less than 1 percent of the ocean globally, they are an integral part of coastacommunities because of their high biodiversity and the economic benefits they provide in tourisand protection of coastal land from storms."We can do a far better job of developingtechnologies and implementing smart policiesthat will offset climate change," Bruno said. "Wecan also work on mitigating the effects of other

stressors to corals including nutrient pollutionand destructive fishing practices."

People have always wondered if there are any ExtraTerrestrials or a planet like earth where life can flourish. Apparently, since theuniverse is so vast, anything could be out there. For the past decades [or maybeeven centuries], NASA has been tracking down for any life inhabited planets, andET's [famously called aliens]. Over these years, they found countless numbers ofplanets, only to be disappointed that there is no life on it, or to find alien lookingcorpses that were just burnt test dummies or UFOs that are just plates and dishessuspended on a rope.

This craze of ET's started when NASA received a message saying WowEver since, they have tried to track them. In the year 2005, NASA has sent one or twoprobes to mars to find evidence that life once thrived there. In the year 2006, theymade theories that other in far galaxies, planets were just gigantic gas planets thadestroyed rocky planets, rocky planets like earth. However, in Europa, an icy moonof Jupiter, may contain water from below its icy crust, and may support life. It wasquite astonishing to know that there was water on one of Jupiter's moons. It wasexciting for scientists, to know that there may be a possibility that life could thrivethere. As the feats of engineering go beyond our solar system, we may even stumble

upon a planet like earth, a planet which can support life itself, a planet of this socalled undiscovered life.

Six new species,including a bat and

two frogs, havebeen discovered bya wildlife group in Democratic Republic of the Congo in aneastern area off limits to scientists for decades because ofviolence.

The New York-based Wildlife ConservationSociety said researchers conducted asurvey of a remote forested region justwest of Lake Tanganyika between Januaryand March.

"If we can find six new species in such a short period it makesyou wonder what else is out there," said researcher Andrew

Plumptre.The new species discovered were a bat, a rodent, two shrewsand two frogs.The statement said the forest was extremely rich in biodiversity,containing a large number of chimpanzees, buffalo, elephants,eopards and monkeys.Around 10 percent of the plant samples collected have yet to bedentified."Given the findings with the vertebrates, it is likely that some ofthe plants will represent new species as well," said Ben Kirundaof the group's botanical team.The researchers said they met village leaders who were mostly

supportive of making the region a protected area."Since few people live there, it would be relatively easy to createa park while supporting the livelihoods of people who live in theandscape," said James Deutsch, director of the WildlifeConservation Society's Africa Program.

Congo breeds new species Coral Reefs Disappearing Faster Than Thought

Angelo S. Fernandez, 6A

ArtWork by Carlo Luigi Ocampo, 6K

- mod

- mod

Life on Other Planets

The Philippines is a country rich inwildlife, with its many forest areas filled withunique animals. Just recently, a new speciesof flying fox or fruit bat has been discoveredlast August on an island south of Manila,reported September 17, 2007.

It was named the Mindoro Stripe-Faced Fruit Bat, with the scientific name

Styloctenium minorensis, for its unusualfacial features. It can be

Tanya ChuaNew Bat Species Discoveredin the Philippines

- next page-


9/10

Science27JUNE - AUGUST 2007

Can two balloons stick on each other?

Try this activity and try to figure out how!

The smallest dinosaurcould reach speeds ofnearly 40 mph (64 kph)and even the lumberingTyrannosaurus rex wouldhave been able to outrunm o s t m o d e r n - d a ys p o r t s m e n , r e c e n tresearch claims.Scientists using computer models calculated the topspeeds for five meat-eating dinosaurs in a study they saycan also illustrate how animals cope with climate change

and extinction.The velociraptor, whose speed and ferocity washighlighted in the film "Jurassic Park," reached 24 mphwhile the T-rex could muster speeds of up to 18 mph, thestudy published in the Royal Society's Biological Sciencesshowed."Our research, which used the minimum leg-muscle massT-rex required for movement, suggests that while notincredibly fast, this carnivore was certainly capable ofrunning and would have little difficulty in chasing downfootballer David Beckham, for instance," said PhilManning, a paleontologist at the University of Manchester,

who worked on the study.The smallest dinosaur -- the Compsognathus -- could runnearly 40 mph, about 5 mph faster than the computer'sestimate for the fastest living animal on two legs, theostrich.A top human sprinter can reach a speed of about 25 mph.The researchers used a computer model to calculate therunning speeds of the five dinosaurs that varied in sizefrom the 3-kg (6.6 pound) Compsognathus to a six-tonneTyrannosaurus.Research found that most of the giant lizards are capableof running, data that could help a lot in understanding howthese ancient animals coped up with their changingenvironment.Knowing how these animals coped over the past millionsof years will give us clues to what is going to happen overthe next thousand years," he said. "That is why there hasbeen more recent interest in biology of these animals."

ArtWork by Ken Barry Tan, 6I

distinguished from otherspecies of bats with itsmulti-cusped lower andupper canine teeth, orangecolor, a black beard, andthree white stripes on itsface.

T h e b a t w a sdiscovered by accident when it was caught in a net set bythe researchers. Dr. Theresa Mundita Lim, Director ofthe Protected Areas and Wildlife Bureau of theDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources, saidthat the new bat species was found by Filipino andforeign scientists on Mt. Siburan in Sablayan, MindoroOccidental, in February last year. These scientists

brought the bat to the National History Museum of theUniversity of Kansas in the United States to verify if it wasa new species. Jacob Esselstyn, an American scientist,confirmed only this September that notonly was it a newspecies but also one that can be found only in thePhilippines. The discovery was a result of joint researchbetween the University of Kansas' Biodiversity ResearchCenter and a team from the Comparative Biogeographyand Conservation of Philippine Vertebrates. Now, thePhilippines has a total of 74 bat species, with 26 unique inthe country. It is still not clear whether the stripe-facedbat is found only on Mt. Siburan or also in other pats of

Mindoro,Lim stated. She also added, The number ofbats of the said species is also unidentified at themoment.

42 species of native terrestrial mammals found inMindoro, eight are actually endemic (confined to a certainregion) to the province. With the discovery of the stripe-faced fruit bat, it provides us more scientific basis toestablish more comprehensive conservation programsfor Mindoro and not just focused on the tamaraw, shesaid.

DINOflash

- mod

- from p 26

Is it REAL?John Carlos C. Sioson,7D

Materials:

- 2 balloons- 2 strings (30cm each)- Metric Tape Measure- Wool Cloth

- Plastic WrapProcedure:1.Blow up the two balloons.2.Hold the strings so that the balloons hang 10 cm apar3.Rub each balloon with wool cotton.4.Repeat step three but use plastic wraps.5.Record the results.

Try it and try to see if you made the experiment asuccess or not!


10/10

Comics28 JUNE - AUGUST 2007

ArtWork by Tammy De Roca 6I

Advancements

TechnologyadvancementsSCREW UP Tammy De Roca, 5D

Tammy De Roca, 5D

A DIFFICULT ONE Ma. Celine M. Larracas

Ma. Celine M. Larracas

SELF-PROCLAIMED

PRETTY DANGEROUS

HEROES CSA STYLE Luigi Abcede, 5D

GOT GOOD HANDS?GOT A SENSE OF HUMOR?CARTOON FOR USBe an AM cartoonist!!!

Send your scanned works to

[email protected]

augustinian mirror 2007 issue c

Documents